Omaha daily bee., 1887-03-04

supreme head of the Catholic church to
the Knights of Labor, as expressed
through Cardinal Taschereau, of Canada,
last year, the published report of Cardinal
Gibbons to the propaganda on the same
subject is worthy of special notice, not
only as showing a wide difference of
opinion between the heads of the church
in Canada and the United States, but as
giving evidence of q change of views by
the pope himself. For it is clear that
the propaganda would not have given
out for publication so strong an argu
ment against its previous decision if 1t
did not foreshadow Il change of that de-
cision.
Cardinal Gibbons reports how care
fully and thoroughly the commission of
twelve archbishops, which assembled in
Baltimore in October last, considered and
investigated the constitution, laws, pur-
poses and practices of the knights of
Labor, and that only two of their num-
ber voted for their condemnation. He
explains how entirely free the order is
from the objection of the church to secret
societies, and explains not only its entire
accordance with our laws aud institutions,
ut least in its aims if not always in its
methods, but the social condition of labor
and It's relation to capital which justify
some kind of organization of the former
to secure fair treatment from the latter.
His defense of the aims of the Knights of
Labor is very frank and logical, and cam
not fail, we think, in presenting the mat
ter in so new and convincing a light to
Leo XIII. rs to secure reversal of his
previous decision.
In summing up the cardinal suggests
some prudential considerations why the
church should not be arrayed against our
American labor organizations, chiefly
because American Catholics do not admit
that it is a question affecting any doctrine,
and therefore not within the province of
the church to deal with. He plainly tells
the propaganda that its condemnation
would be rebelled against and could not
be enforced; that it would be dangerous
| to the reputation of the church in our
democratic country, and ruinous to it's
finances by the cutting off of Peters
pence.
1t is one of the strong points of the
cardinals plea that he urges
the propaganda not to allow
the church to be branded as "un. .Ameri-
can" His entire argument, as well
as the events connected with the suspen
sion of Father McGlynn must make il
clearer to the council at Rome than ever
before that whenever the church Is ar
rayed against the individual and political
liberties of its votaries in free America,
the church will have to 90 to the wall.
The farreaching power of the church in
past ages. or even in the present age, in
old Catholic countries will not be sub
mtted to here. When Daniel OConnell
said "As much religion as you please,
but no politics from Rome" he exactly
expressed the feelings of Catholics in
this country. So long as the church con.
forms to the spirit of our free institu
tions it will maintain its power and ex-
tend Its influence on our soil, but when
it forgets that this is democratic
country, self-governed by free people
it will find the rebellous spirit Of 117(
latent but living
But the church is wise, and it will fine
reasons enough in its varied history anc
experiences for gracefully yielding
where prudence dictates. 1t could gair
nothing in conflict with its American
children, and it would lose its stronges
supporters in the world to-day. Fo
these reasons, more than because th
cardinal thinks the organization of tn,
Knights transient, there will, we think
be no condemnation and therefore M
conflict with Mother Church.